AGENT 661 continued from page 23

Gloria looked at him innocently for a moment. Then looked down and said, "You'll think me terribly forward but I wanted to be no- ticed."

"You've certainly gained that. But what for?"

Gloria looked sidewise at him, trying to look seductive. “I—I want to go to Berlin-to the "Musical Cat." Everyone says that is the tops, and you get to meet so many interesting people there not all these gawking tourists, but real interesting people." She batted an eyelash at him suggestively.

"Go back to bed, now child. We'll talk again tomorrow. Here," and he extended two white pills across to her, "take these and you'll sleep well. Take her to her room, he ordered another man who had entered the room on signal. “And try not to violate her." The guard shrugged impassively and went out followed by the young Gloria who managed a rather lewd wink at the manager before she got through the door.

The manager looked to the other man. "Well?" The other man shrugged casually; he had already dismissed the incident with the casual, sometimes blind arrogance of the professional who is just a shade too good.

"She's your problem—and she may become a bigger one if you let her stay around. She's thick-headed enough, but she may remember all the elaborate guarding and wonder why. We have enough risk without some vacant-headed young woman starting all kinds of questions." He noisily spilled some of his cognac.

The manager had begun wringing his hands nervously. "Yes, I suppose you're right. You don't think we ought to use scopolamine on her? Just in case?”

The other man snorted derision at this suggestion. "Not unless you're looking for a sound track for some of those "art" films you de- light in. No, I'd say the best thing to do is get rid of her." At the oth- er's quick look of dismay, he added, "No, not that. There would be too many many questions. I'd say marry her-hah," at the look of con- sternation on the other's face, “Or—you know she gave you the answer already-send her to Berlin. To Der Musischer Katzen. Let them worry about her though I'll guarantee that she won't cause much trouble. Not with Herr Zimmer and his fat wife on hand.” He shook his head at

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